Yafaau's blog

The Disability Act has been passed with the recommendations from the Committee for Social Affairs of Majlis.

Stakeholders like CARE and Health Ministry met with this ‘Committee’ to advice on corrections and additions to this bill and I can say, there was almost no corrections into it. In addition, it was passed with a clause to give benefits for the Thalassemia Patients as well!

• MP Riyaz Rasheed submitted a Bill on providing monetary assistance to “People with Special Needs”.
• Later Government submits a bill on Rights for “People with Special Needs”.
• The Committee on Social Affairs makes these two into one and presents it to the Majlis floor.
• MP Abdulla Mausoom adds a clause including Thalassemia Patients in this bill and vote passes in favor of that!
• Disability Act PASSES!

I think People with Special Needs in the constitution is meant in a broader perspective. Meaning Persons with a Disabilities are in it. Thalassemia Patients “may” also be in it. People with Chronic Illnesses such as Cancer Patients and People who has renal failure must be in it. And Diabetic Patients can also be in the “People with Special Needs” category. Pregnant women, People effected by natural disasters… etc. are all who could be in the “Special Needs” category in this context.

The definition of “People with Special Needs” in the Constitution doesn’t have any clause which can include Thalassemia Patients in the Special Needs category! If so, I would like to humbly urge President Nasheed NOT to ratify this bill as it would then conflict with the New Constitution we are so proud of!

So…

DO NOT RATIFY THE DISABILITY ACT! Send it back to Majlis so that we, Civil Society Organizations/Non-Governmental Organizations and other stakeholders can persuade the Parliament into include the corrections into the Disability Act.

You can find the documents that was submitted by the Health Ministry/Bills at MVdisAbilityNet(http://groups.google.com/group/mvdisability) Join and discuss.

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